Blog:UK thirst for Budweiser

Glancing at recent sales of Budweiser, there is no wonder that Anheuser-Busch InBev has handed the Stag brewery a stay of execution in the UK.

The brewery is now expected to close at the back end of 2011, rather than at the beginning of the year, as earlier announced by A-B InBev.

Last week's quarterly figures from the brewer give us an insight into its thinking. The firm's sales volumes rose by 11% in the UK in the second quarter, against a market that only just kept its head above the water.

Budweiser sales, in particular, rocketed off a low base - which the brewer has attributed to the brand's position as official sponsor to the FIFA World Cup. England were briefly involved in the tournament.

A contact of mine and long-serving employee at the Stag brewery, based in Mortlake near London, told me earlier this year that the facility was brewing "more Budweiser than ever before".

It seems A-B InBev needs more time to figure out how to maintain supply once the brewery is shut.